Author's Note: Heyyy! Remember when I said possible double upload? Yeah! That's right! You're getting a double upload this weekend. Now, Silly Faces was a fic with pure fluff, so I had to balance it with a little angst somehow. Scratch 'little', this fic actually has a lot of angst in the first half. I would classify it as whump because there's quite a bit of emotionally stressing moments. But, it ends very fluffy. Don't you worry! I hope the flow of this fic is alright because I'm not too terribly satisfied with it. If you think of a way I can make it better, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. You all know I love story fic tickles and that's what this fic is. Much like "A Tedious Caretaker" the tickling in this fic is treated like an after thought. Ahhh whatever. You'll see what I mean when you read it. This fic does have quite a bit of warnings in it, so stay safe everyone. And enjoy!

The Lost Kiddo

Ships: Platonic Intruality (If you want a romantic intruality fic in the future, let me know.)

Words ~ 2,621 ~

Warnings: Disturbing Imagery, Sexual innuendos, Kink talk, Screaming/Yelling , Crying, Animal Death mention, torture mention, Janus and Remus are both in this one, Mentions of Roman angst, Food mention (more specifically lots and lots of bananas), slimy substances, jealousy, violence and lots of sorrow. (Please let me know if I forgot something. There are a lot of things.    ><')

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     Kiddo. It was a word that meant everything and nothing to the man who would quietly fantasize about having such a nickname directed towards him.

     Kiddo. A form of endearment given from a father figure to one whom he considered an apprentice, or in some intimate cases, a son. A child. One who is loved without fail regardless of whatever whimiscal, wacky, or weird decisions the child would make without parental guidance or approval.

     That was him, wasn't it? The description fit the duke perfectly in all of his oddities and transgressions, yet he was missing one key element. He was not loved as a 'kiddo' should be, but he liked to pretend the many years that passed had created something unworthy of a so-called 'holy' nickname. But, even Janus had the gall to confront him with the idea that it was a forced lie, so he denied himself, again.

     As Remus grew up, there were no goodnight kisses, no goodbye hugs, and certainly no fond ruffles of the hair that he so deeply envied Roman for. Perhaps that's why he never washed his own hair, he couldn't bear the pain of going through all the effort to receive something only to never receive it. Because deep down he knew, Patton would never dare touch filth like him.

     Once the whole escapade had happened with Janus being accepted and Patton becoming okay with his existence, a spark of hope had burned within the duke's broiling chest. He was disgusted by it, but taking his anger out on his own brother who was already worse for wear would not have been a wise decision. So he went to Janus and acted like the deranged maniac he was, hoping to drive everyone away so this sick flame of hope would leave his twisted form.

     But Janus knew better than to pick a fight with a broken animal. What Remus had gone through in terms of emotional turmoil was arguably even worse than Virgil's, and Janus was not sure he would recover. There was nothing he could do for Remus now, because the fate of Thomas's creativity lay solely in the hands of the moral aspect's.

     Patton, alone, was in control of Thomas's belief system and now that it was shifting, Roman's idealism, his hopes and his dreams fell between the cracks of a shattered worldview. Janus had held Patton that night, who was sobbing over his failure to the side he had always called his kiddo. Janus knew Roman would recover eventually as he seemed to have found a friend in Virgil, but it was Remus who had nothing. If Patton truly wanted Thomas to heal, then he would have to accept the new worldview, and by default accept Remus.

     Patton went, without any prompting from Janus or Thomas. He would reach out, no matter how hard, scared, or disgusted he was. He knew now more than ever just how important all of Thomas was, even the ugliest parts he had tried to repress for years. So he called out, bearing all of Remus's shenanigans just to get through to the side of him that lay beneath his role.

     And it was very hard, Patton would admit. He would recall the screaming, the crying, and the torture Remus had put him through. He could feel the anger burning behind that unnerving smile of his, but he could also feel his searing pain. And Patton began to realize he did not only fail Roman, but Remus as well.

     Then, Patton finally broke.

     "I'm sorry..." It was through ugly sobbing, but Patton had meant every word. "I...I don't deserve forgiveness."

     Remus snarled. "Shut up."

     "I don't deserve a second chance." Patton would not be fazed. He had nothing left to lose.

     "I said shut up!" The duke shouted as he stomped up to his whereabouts on the ground.

     "I...I just want you to know I was wrong...for not being there for you..."

     "Sh-shut up!" Remus felt his voice crack and it betrayed the tears he felt threaten to spill from behind his eyes.

     "You needed me...and I wasn't there..."

     Remus couldn't say anything for fear he would begin to cry too.

     "But I'm here now..." Patton reached out. "And I know nothing I can do will repair what happened in the past..."

     Remus growled, clawing at his face as the flame of hope began to fill his insides with something akin to turmoil.

     "But...can I...will you let me...be a part of your future?"

     Remus fell to the ground, unholy screeching racking his abdomen and filling the room with the worst sounds imaginable.

     Patton pushed through it all reaching now with both hands towards Remus's shoulder. "I don't want to neglect you anymore Remus. I need you to know that I care for you. I love you. I love all of who you are." A caress had reached Remus's shoulder and the duke jumped and grabbed Patton's wrist with a clammy hand, but held it limply, still seeming to be at war with himself.

     "And...now I know that no matter what happens between us from now on, I'll never stop trying to reach you. Because as long as I'm concerned, you will always be my k-"

     "SHUT UUUUP!!" Remus screamed, brandishing his mace in the air as he locked eyes with Patton for the first time since he visited. What he saw on Patton's face was love. Unabashed love directed towards him like a lamb being lead by it's owner whom he loved dearly to the slaughter house. Love he had yearned for since the beginning of his creation. He didn't have to forgive Patton. He didn't have to accept anything Patton was giving him after years of neglect, but he wanted it. And Remus could no longer deny himself that fact.

     The waterworks had already begun and Remus knew there was no use stopping them as the fire of hope had already reached the muckiest corners of his heart. With a mighty crash, he brought the mace down on the floor next to Patton and deposited his exhausted, floppy body on top of Patton who was hardly given any warning.

     They fell to the floor and Patton shook as a wet mustache rubbed into the crook of his neck. It was Remus's turn to ugly sob, years of emotional pain dumping like a violent torrent of rain across a thundering sky. And Patton held him. Not caring about the smells or the sights, or the situation he was in. He had found a lost kiddo, and he couldn't be more happy about that fact.

     The following days were awkward, for both Patton and Remus. A large portion of it was Patton apologizing over and over again, with Remus attempting to retain the horrific image he had built up for years. But now that Patton had accepted Thomas's new worldview, everything was changing. Shifting. Evolving. For better or for worse. Sweet Patton kept trying because he knew the more he tried, the more Remus would begin to trust that what he said rang true in his heart and Thomas's.

     One thing he noticed right as he began to spend more time with Remus after that fateful moment, was his extreme want for attention. 'Kink' as Remus liked to call it. He wanted so desperately to be the center of attention at all times and would do anything it took to get that spotlight. After being overshadowed by Roman all of his life with no hope of even getting noticed by Thomas, it made sense why his tendencies were overall negative and destructive. Patton had sought out Logan for guidance on how to curb his habits, but he knew there was no way they would see improvement overnight.

     After a bit of unbridled bribing, Janus had let something slip about Remus being subtly jealous of what Patton had spoiled Roman with. The hugs, the treats and the pampering; Remus had hid it well, but hardly anything escapes the lord of the lies. If only Patton could find some way to gradually introduce all of that into his friendship with Remus, then maybe they could begin to iron things out. The last thing Patton wanted to do was treat Remus like a puppy, and reward him for doing good things, even if Remus had said he was into Pet Play but Patton knew better than to assume the idea was as wholesome as it sounded.

     So, Patton started with little things. Bringing him a cookie or a snack here, then doing his laundry there and it was then Patton began to notice the little spark behind his eyes whenever he and his mustache would smile. The same spark Roman used to have whenever he would get a good idea or look on someone he was fond of. As time went on, Remus's ideas didn't become less disgusting, crude, or horrific, but Patton looked past all that and was able to see Thomas in him. He loved the little noise Remus made whenever he called him kiddo. He wasn't sure if it was lewd, but he didn't really care if it was or not. Remus just seemed to be really happy and that was enough for him.

     Actually, Patton wanted to see him smiling and happy all the time, like Roman used to be. Yes there was the "I'm about to gross you out and get pleasure from it" smile, but there was also the "awwww you care about me" smile and Patton just loved that wide grin Remus would give him whenever he spoiled him. Which was usually followed by a big bear hug. Patton had thought Roman liked physical touch, Remus liked it so much more so. Behind all the weirdness that made up his being, Remus, at heart, was a cuddler.

     Patton would have never have guessed it, but once they both worked on their relationship a little bit more, cuddle parties became a weekly tradition. It was a perfect opportunity to give Remus the attention he craved and also quell his intrusive thoughts. When Remus was with Patton during this time, the thoughts were there, but he would usually focus on cuddling more than shouting out odd things willy nilly. Patton was making so much progress with Remus that he thought it couldn't get any better, but he was sorely mistaken because it was during one of these cuddle parties Patton had found yet another way to give Remus positive reinforcement.

     "Greasy grimy stinky slimy. Greasy grimy stinky slimy." Remus sung as he wiggled underneath the 'covers' of their well built banana peel fort. To Remus's credit, it didn't smell too horrible and Patton knew he was gonna need a shower eventually, but even he couldn't deny the funny sensation of something slimy pressing into his face and hands.

     "Ehehehehewww!" Patton giggled as he struggled to prop himself up on his elbow, his balance unstable from the slippery juices of the banana coating the carpet. Remus didn't even try keep his balance and flopped, sending banana juice at Patton which caused him to lose his grip and flop with Remus. "EEK!"

     "YES!" Remus shouted! "Feel the banana! Feel it! Smell it. Lick it! Loooooove it." He rubbed a hand over the banana-ridden carpet before flicking a bit of the bits of banana strings at Patton.

     "Nooooo..." Patton shielded his face, but couldn't help but laugh when they hung off of his glasses. Remus laughed at the sight and decided to hang a few more 'decorations' on his spectacles. "Remus! No it tickles!"

     "Oh it does?" Remus chastised and began dangling the strings on the exposed bits of his neck. The moral aspect squeaked and scrunched his head down to his shoulders, but it only made Remus chase after the tips of his ears.

     "Hey! Whyyyyy?" Patton playfully whined as he tried to wiggle away, but Remus wriggled closer.

     "Cuz I like your giggles!" Remus exclaimed happily before discarding the banana string in exchange for tweaking Patton's ears with his thumb and forefinger. "Gootch!" He exclaimed exploding into giggles with Patton as he tried to sit up to escape Remus's tweaks only to forget the banana fort's ceiling was right there.

     Patton shrieked again, but this time because he now had banana in his hair. Remus cackled at Patton's appearance beating the ground with his fist and kicking his legs sending bits of banana flying in random directions.

     Patton had quite enough of that. "Alright mister. You think that's funny don'tcha?! Well, what about this!?" Patton launched himself towards Remus and grabbed whatever tickle spot was near him first. Remus screamed and began to kick a bit when he felt Patton began to squeeze his knees.

     "Ya ticklish here?" Patton teased. "Is the kiddo ticklish here!?" Patton watched as Remus's normally pale expression turned cherry tomato as he teased and tickled his knee pits along with his thighs. Remus tried desperately not to kick Patton and was thankful when he reached for the other tickle spots that littered his upper body.

     Patton dove for his tummy next, scritching and scuttering above the duke's slimey outfit that was littered with banana guts. It was then Patton had noticed he wasn't fighting back. Instead, Remus was laughing happily and grabbing fistfuls of banana and flinging it to the sides while flapping his arms in the most adorable manner.

     "Awww! Do ya like being tickled Remus?" Patton ceased his ticklish touches for a moment and allowed the duke a chance to speak.

     "Yaya!" He exclaimed happily through his titters, undid his belt, and pulled up his shirt all the way to his face until only his mustache, nose and eyes were visible behind the underside of his garment.

     Patton chuckled and scritched his nails along the duke's visible ribs, tweaking each one as he traveled. Remus howled with more laughter, clutching his blouse to his mouth and wiggling around. As he squeezed the ribs, he noticed the lack of meat on Remus's bones and filed the information away for later.

     "You got some skinny ribs there Remus!" He teased and tazed his sides causing him to arch his back off the banana ridden floor. "How about I make dinner when we're done here!?"

     "Oooooo!!! Food sounds great! But more tickles first!" Remus stretched to the sky giving Patton perfect access to his underarms.

     "Eheheheh! Sounds like a good plan there kiddo!" Patton poked two fingers into the duke's hairy hollows and wiggled. He screamed and curled up like a threatened pill bug. Patton cooed and slipped his arms around his middle and drew him into a cuddle hug from behind. For the next few minutes, Remus would expose a tickle spot on purpose and Patton would chase after it with teasing fingers. It was good fun for both of them and Patton knew this was an activity they would be doing more of in the coming future. "Gosh! You're adorable!"

     Remus's eyes sparkled with mirth and he shimmied around until he could cuddle into the moral aspect's front. "As adorable as a banana?"

     "More adorable than a banana." Patton reassured and booped his nose. Remus booped Patton's right back.

     It was silent for a minute before Remus spoke first. "Thank you..."

     "Anytime." Patton smiled sadly, trying hard not to imagine Roman saying those words again. "I love you kiddo."

     "I love you too, pops." Remus's grin following his declaration was much too infectious and Patton couldn't help but mirror it. Although Patton missed Roman dearly, the time away allowed him to do something he should have done years ago. Better late than never, Patton supposed, but he was still happy his lost kiddo had given him a second chance.

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Author's Note: Yeah! There's that. Hope someone out there enjoyed this wacky fic that is just a perfect description of Remus. Only Remus would be like "bananas. Banana guts everywhere." XDDD Well, I'm only gonna be vague about future projects because I don't wanna make too many promises, but just know I have ship self-inserts in mind, as well as sequels (maybe a prequel), and some new stuff in the works. I also have an idea that I might announce that would require outside help if I find myself able to stick by my weekly schedule for a little bit. We shall see! But until then, have a great whatever time of day it is for you and Ceffy out! <3